10 Ways to a Flatter Tummy

1. Work on Your Back Muscles

A strong back like Cameron Diaz's is critical to good posture, which in turn sucks in stomach pooch. For instant slimming, "imagine your spine as an elevator going up," and lift our rib cage up and away from hips, says trainer Ellen Barrett.

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2. Layer Your Tanks

The problem with shapewear tops? They're tight, so they actually call attention to your tummy. Wear a Lycra workhorse under a loose cotton T to compress flab, or go for a two-in-one like the version shown here.
Nylon-Polyester Tank, Flexees by Maidenform, $38; maidenform.com.

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3. Switch to Green Tea

In a Tufts University study of moderate exercisers, green-tea drinkers lost notably more belly fat than a control group who drank another caffeinated beverage. Make your own frozen bars from iced green tea at home.
Kusmi Detox Tea, $16/20 bags; us.kusmitea.com.

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4. Skip Crunches

Or at least stop obsessing about not doing them. "Spot training is never the key to a flat belly," says Gregory Joujon-Roche of L.A.'s Holistic Fitness. Joujon-Roche, who has worked with Demi Moore, says cardio exercise like jumping rope or interval training is just as important. Start with 20 minutes three times a week, and work hard enough to break a sweat.

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5. Try a Natural Sleep Aid

Building on earlier studies showing a broader link between slumber and weight loss, researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine found that subjects who sleep from six to eight hours a night have significantly less stomach fat than those who sleep fewer than six hours. Rebloom ($24 for seven 2.5 oz. bottles; rebloom.com), a liquid supplement with sleep-inducing melatonin and valerian root, helps your body ease into dreamland.

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6. Go High-Waisted

Whether you wear pants, or a skirt like Scarlett Johansson, a high waist downplays ab flab says stylist Rob Zangardi. "The higher cut draws eyes to your true waist," he says, which for many is the narrowest part of the torso.

8. Eat Wheat Berries for Breakfast

Whole grains have been known to fight the belly fat associated with heart disease and diabetes, whereas refined grains like those in white bread and pasta offer none of those benefits. So skip the bagel, and boil up some wheat berries instead. Served with agave syrup, they're a tasty alternative to oatmeal.

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9. Zap Your Muffin Top

Meet Bella Contour, the newest noninvasive slimming technique to hit our shores. As Dr. Tina Alster, director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery, describes it, a handheld wand delivers a combination of ultrasound, electric current, and vacuum pressure to tighten skin around the abs (or thighs or buttocks). The procedure is painless, she says: "Patients not only have firmer skin but also lose inches off the abdomen." Six to eight sessions (from $300 to $500 each) are recommended. The treatment is now available in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington, D.C. For more info, go to realaesthetics.com.

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Work on Your Back Muscles

A strong back like Cameron Diaz's is critical to good posture, which in turn sucks in stomach pooch. For instant slimming, "imagine your spine as an elevator going up," and lift our rib cage up and away from hips, says trainer Ellen Barrett.
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